Midland College baseball coach David Coleman said his team’s offense has spit and sputtered some over the last couple of weeks.

Heading into the Western Junior College Athletic Conference opening series against Howard College this weekend, Coleman would love to see some more consistency out of his bats.

However, one player who has been real consistent at the plate is catcher Alex Salcido.

Despite coming off a major shoulder injury last year, the redshirt-freshman out of El Paso Americas is one of the team leaders with a .408 batting average to go with two home runs, 19 RBI, 11 runs scored and two stolen bases. Salcido is also coming off a good day at the plate against rival Odessa College on Tuesday, as he went 3-for-3 with two doubles, three RBI, two walks and a run scored in the wild 15-14 non-conference loss to the Wranglers.

“I’ve been feeling really good,” said Salcido, who was also honored in mid-February as the NJCAA Division I Baseball Player of the Week. “I’ve been working really hard in practice and working in the batting cages.”

Salcido has had a long way back from an injury that cost him his freshman year with the Chaparrals. Salcido suffered a torn labrum and a separated shoulder in a collision at home plate during a game against Seward County in early February of last year. He wasn’t cleared to play until right before the season started.

“It’s been a long process,” he said. “It’s been really tough but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my coaches. I’m just happy to be back playing the game again.”

Coleman said Salcido is still not back to being 100 percent to what he was before the injury but said he has been steady and has thrown out potential base stealers.

“He’s getting better every week,” Coleman said. “Like all rehabs, there will be a little setback here and there. He’s really swinging the bat well and he’s really catching and blocking well.”

Added Salcido: “My arm is still getting stronger, physically throughout my whole body. It was a long time without playing. I’ve been trying to get back into the swing of things but it’s been good so far.”

Playing catcher can be a little tough on the body but it’s a position that Salcido loves to play.

“I like how you’re kind of in control of the game, you kind of set the tone for the whole team and stuff like that,” he said. “You kind of take a leadership role on the field and you can see everything, see what’s going on. Being an active player in the game is really fun.”

Salcido also gets to work with a solid Chaps’ pitching staff that’s leading the WJCAC with a 4.23 ERA.

If Coleman can see more consistency out of its offense to help the pitchers even more, then the Chaps will like their chances of defending their WJCAC crown.

“I feel real confident,” said Salcido about starting conference. “The team’s starting to play really well. We got over some big humps that we needed get over and it’s come at a good time. We’ve been practicing really hard and hopefully we’ve gotten everything cleaned up.”

Records: Midland College 9-5, 0-0 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference; Howard College 9-6, 0-0

Notes & quotes: MC coach David Coleman said he wishes his team had another week to prepare for WJCAC play as the Chaparrals haven’t played as well the last couple of weeks. “I don’t think we’re in a great frame of mind,” Coleman said. “We’ve really struggled when the game gets uncomfortable, the pressure points of the game. Because we’re not playing the game of baseball very well, the game has a tendency to expose you.” Coleman said the team has been working hard to better cope with the pressure points of a game. ... Coleman said with the exception of Tuesday’s 15-14 loss at Odessa College, the team’s pitching has been a bright spot. ... The rotation for this weekend will be sophomore RHP Callan Johnson (2-0, 2.37 ERA) followed by sophomore RHP Brock Barger (2-1, 2.55) today. On Saturday, sophomore RHP Jonathan Nicholson (3-0, 2.49) will start the first game, while the final game’s starter is to be determined on who’s left out of the bullpen. ... Coleman said Howard is physical and athletic and like the Chaps, the Hawks haven’t been always consistent. He said the key this series is for his team is to get big hits with runners on base.

Next: Howard College at Midland College, 4 p.m. Wednesday

2017 WJCAC Baseball Standings

Conf. Overall

W L W L

Odessa College 0 0 14 2

NMMI 0 0 13 7

Midland College 0 0 9 5

Howard College 0 0 9 6

Western Texas 0 0 9 9

Clarendon College 0 0 6 9

New Mexico JC 0 0 5 10

Frank Phillips 0 0 3 10

El Paso CC 0 0 4 16

Luna CC 0 0 3 17

This weekend’s WJCAC series

Midland College vs. Howard College; Odessa College at Luna Community College; Western Texas College vs. New Mexico JC; Frank Phillips College at Clarendon College; El Paso CC at New Mexico Military Institute